Fucked up (a bit) in new job...but should there be some leeway?

[alltoomuchrightnow]

Firstly I should say I know I've messed up, and two wrongs don't make a right! My morale is low and I'm resentful but this certainly wasn't intentional.
I've posted before re I had to work late and my car got locked in overnight (had to leave it on site), and I am also on someone else's thread re doing unpaid overtime.
I'm 2.5 months into a new job (retail - shop floor). Due to working alone in a busy department I leave work late, this doesn't get paid nor can get time off in lieu (this has all been discussed). It's a difficult situation as a/ I don't want to risk not being offered more hours b/ I'm on probation c/ I know how retail works (I'm an ex manager, however this place is taking the piss) d/ I;m told to do the extra work - they do know the score! . Also it's often one person (let's call him Jake) from HR that often gives me the extra work to do at home time. Anyway I had had good feedback and a great first month review but have been fed up at all the extra hours I've clocked up unpaid (although I know how it is at 'peak season')

Anyway the last two days I've messed up. I always get in slightly early, I always leave late, but yesterday I started 8 minutes late on my department. Sod's law that Jake happened to be there (isn't normally) so it was obviously noted (I was sick on the way to work and had to pull over.. have told him this).
Today's issue was entirely my fault. I took too long on a break, my own fault not keeping eye on time. Again sod's law that Jake was around visiting my dept, and had timed me. Got a bollocking for this.
My point of view is this.. I've clocked up, as I said, many unpaid hours. He knows this as it's often him giving me the extra work! He asked me if i know what my correct break allowance for my shift is. My point is... I know what it is for the shift I am PAID to do. However, as my shift is always longer (ie I work extra, unpaid), that pushes me into a more generous break allowance category. As he knows inevitably I'll be staying late, then I 'should' get that extra time (this is obviously my view!). Of course he doesn't see it this way. I didn't deliberately take longer today but I did think he'd overlook it seeing as I work long enough to earn that extra time out. (I'm not trying to make the rules and I know someone will say 'it doesn't work like that'..but I have put in a huge amount of extra time and am a conscientious worker.. I am also doing the work of several people, alone...)
I'm banging my head against a wall here. It's like they've tied a noose around my neck. I can't leave until the work is done and my dept is tidy etc and I've done what I'm assigned to do for that evening shift (I always work the end of day shifts so it does mean more tidying up and stock recovery) Everyone knows I stay late. Loads of people comment. (annoyingly they do get overtime but my dept, which is a temporary one, does not!) But as today shows I'm not 'allowed' that extra break entitlement.
How can I go to HR when he IS HR?! (ok there's others in HR too but it's a bit awkward!)

I remember your last thread too.

These people are taking the piss!!! Yes it's not great being late, however the way he treated you was shocking - people who treat others like that are egotistic shits who probably have a inferiority complex anyway - at the very least he could have said I realise you're unwell and work shed loads of free hours but can you try to keep to time

But actually you've done so many extra hours for them I'd be inclined to just find something new ASAP and leave that company - how dare they not pay you overtime ffs - you must be below minimum wage now surely?

I'm fuming for you!

Ask Jake what he wants you to do when you've technically clocked off but there's still work to be done.

Then when he replies that it needs to be done, tell him an accidental extra 10 minutes on your break won't hurt and to stop being such a jobsworth twat.

Everyone in retail works hard enough without an idiot from the office who's probably never worked on the shop floor telling them what to do.

You can stand up for yourself without being rude or getting into trouble. Just challenge him. Tell him it's Christmas time & everyone's working their arses off, surely he has bigger issues to deal with that being late off your break.

In my experience (retail 15yrs & SM 10) you really do need to challenge people when it comes to things like this.

Hope you feel better soon, Christmas is nearly over- hold out

Sorry just read more of the thread. Saw that he also works on shop floor,

In which case he can see you're struggling as having to stay over to make sure shop is tidy ready for open, can he put someone on your dept for an hour at the end?

Ateotd- I wouldn't continue to stay after my shift if this was his attitude toward me after the little slip ups you've had. I say slip ups, because compared to your work load and how extra you work for free, your slip ups are bloody trivial!!!!!!!

Is it standard to put in so many additional hours with no pay in retail? That’s madness.

Go above jake. Go to another member of HR, or your area or regional manager. If he doesn't stop being a dick.

But the moment you allow him to be this way with you and to not be pulling his weight as much is bad cause nothing will ever change.

I don't know that this can ever get better with such a knob head bully around watching you like this - he sounds awful and they sound like they are lucky to have you and taking the piss.

I'd look for a new job, then when you leave tell them exactly why.

I would look for another job.

Tell the store or regional manager of this guy is HR and you can't through him. That's so much unpaid work.

They sound terrible! I've just read your other thread too and it's absolutely shocking that they locked your car in!

I agree that the HR man sounds like a bully and that you're better off finding another job.

Ive had a similar situation in the past - not in retail but an office job, where the person bullying and being unreasonable was the HR manager. In fact she comprised the entire HR department.

Legally I''d have had strong grounds to raise a grievance, but there was no point as I'd be asking the bully to investigate herself, so I resigned.

If I were in your shoes now, I'd do one of two things:

1. Give notice now and look for another job (not great timing, I know - how long is your notice period?)

1. Start being meticulous about starting and finishing on time. It's not your fault if stuff isn't ready for the evening shift if bully boy Jake is giving you extra stuff to do. But obviously this approach is risky and you may be fired....

I wouldn't fight him though, I think you're on a hiding to nothing there unfortunately, bless you

Bearded mum , yes, when I worked in photographic retail, it was even in my contract that on top of my 48 paid hours a week, we would all do at least 15 hours unpaid overtime a week if needed it was always way more than that (it was a busy industry then)

I would think if I'm new and on probation my notice period is only a week but I need to check.
re yesterday , I certainly wasn't allowed to take the extra time so couldn't have informed them that i was..it was purely accidental and not helped by the fact I took two loo breaks in that break, loo is in different part of building so it's all time consuming. He said you know we are paying you for that time (ie a paid break) , that's what he was pissed off about .( Wish I'd been able to say, it hardly makes a dent in what you in theory owe me, hours wise..)
If I wasn't on probation I'd have obviously stuck up for myself. After all, he's often the reason I have to stay much later. I did say that 'you know I alway stay late and I will tonight, as usual. Only three times since starting have I left on time (I work 5 eves a week). They don't give me any help , especially at end of day when need it, and weekends are nuts, it can be hometime and I have like 300 items to put away as well as tidying!. All the other depts have a team, clear up together and leave on time. I not only have the recovery and tidying up to do, but he will assign me at hometime, eg moving two aisles of stock to another location..that could be 500 items to move and stack! To me that's bullying as he's aware of what time I finish.. all the eve shop floor workers should in theory go the same time.. but I'm always later.. sometimes more than an hour later..

They sound like an awful employer. I’m angry on your behalf. If the hours of unpaid overtime are taking you below minimum wage - that’s illegal.

I can understand someone on 50k working unpaid hours. But this is a retail store, not life and death. Please join a union. And please leave this crappy job!

If I knew what this store was I would be tweeting their poor practices and complaining to the CEO about staff treatment!

And you’ve worked around £300 of time for free! The CEO earns millions. That’s really really not okay and I wish that all workers would make a stand against this bullshit. I almost understand it when healthcare professionals stay on extra hours. To save lives. But I still think they deserve overtime or TOIL.

But this is a retail store! In the whole scheme of things it makes no difference. Apart from to make the bosses richer.

Had yesterday off, so dreading going in today, feel really sick

Can you afford to hand in your notice and find something else? There should be a decent number of retails roles around at the moment.

It's a toxic environment. You're unsupported, not trusted and treated like a child. I would have been tempted to hand in my notice after Captain Bellend timed your break.

You deserve better.

How much longer is your probation?

I think if you feel sick at the thought of going to work, that’s a sign that this isn’t the job for you. There’s no shame in admitting that. Probation works both ways. It’s also to check that you want to work there.

Sounds awful. Defo start refusing to do extra unnecessary stuff such as changing item locations. Just tidy and go. Isn’t there anyone else you can approach for support?

I think you should call ACAS for advice.

I wonder if he knows you have a background in management and is worried that youll get promoted over him. Or he thinks you think youre better than him so is reminding you who the boss is.

If you add up all your unpaid hours and divide it by your total earnings does that take you under nmw?

Well, firms really do shoot themselves in the foot by treating their staff like crap. If the OP quits then they are going to be even more short staffed over the Christmas period.

If it’s the company I’m thinking of, they are hardly struggling financially.